Shawshank Redemption Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Shawshank Redemption - Essay Example Several scenes from the movie Shawshank Redemption give rise for ethical reflection. In the scene where Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) offered financial advice to Captain Hadley (Clancy Brown), Andy almost got himself killed trying to argue his point across. Eventually, Andy was able to secure his position among the guards and, also, his inmates by giving them a "night of freedom", drinking beers on the rooftop. Andy's "self-sacrifice" proves to be questionable based on Kant's Ethics on Good Will. According to Kant, an action can only be perceived as done in "good will" if the rational being has the right reasons behind his actions-the right reason being honor bound by duty to do the right thing when a person is in power to affect a change. Since the motive behind Andy's actions is questionable, the act is therefore, morally incorrect. On the other hand, from the virtue theorists' point of view, the nature of man is too complex to put an exact science upon. For them, the question of ethics relies heavily upon a man's character and since Andy Dufresne is dominantly good, he is bound to act morally and perform good deeds. This theory is further strengthened in the part where Andy helped a new inmate, Tommy Williams (Gil Bellows), gain his high school diploma in the In addition and, in sharp contrast against Kant's theory, ethical egoism allows for the